[olug] WiFi site survey?

[Benjamin Watson]

There's obviously the manual method using a product like Wifi Spy (a
USB stick) to identify interference and the like similar to what was
mentioned before.  I've used a product called Radio Mobile Deluxe in
the past for provisioning outdoor APs with fairly decent results.
This software was designed primarily for outdoor propagation, but on
the mailing list I've seen the following recommended:

http://www2.aerohive.com/l/1244/2010-05-05/GYKAL

I watched the demo video on the page above (a Youtube video) and the
product seems sound and straight forward (then again, I've read
nothing about the actual RF propagation models used within the
software).  Of course, the primary reason that Aerohive gives you free
access to their web-based planning tool is the hope that you'll
purchase their gear.  And, being that their gear is based on industry
(e.g. 802.11) standards, I don't see how their results could be too
far off from non-Aero products.

I'd imagine one could verify their results with a known floor plan
(e.g. your house), known wifi deployment (e.g. your wireless router),
and real-world manual site surveys (e.g. walking around with an
Android phone using the Wifi Analyzer app).

Ben

On Tue, Jun 28, 2011 at 2:29 PM, Jason N <dashrender at cox.net> wrote:
> I had one done a few years ago... They came in with a WAP on a stick, then took a laptop and took readings from different points.  Would move the WAP and take more readings...
>
> once they had all of their data, they took it back to their office and came back with a suggestion.
>
> I'd give you their names, but I no longer recommend them since they can't seem to be bothered to respond to e-mails or phone calls.
>
>
> ---- Dan Linder <dan at linder.org> wrote:
> [Off and On Topic for Linux]
>
> A friend of mine called asking about having a WiFi site survey done for a
> client of his (here in Omaha).
>
> Question 1: [off topic] Anyone have a suggestion or two for people he can
> contact to do this?
>
> Question 2: [on topic] Is there a Linux package that would allow someone to
> do this themselves?
>
> I'd guess this program would be AutoCAD-like in that you would draw out a
> building, describe the walls (cement, glass-windows, steel/wood studs,
> drywall thicknesses, etc), and it would estimate the signal strengths on the
> map.
>
> Dan
>
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